Ten mind-blowing Atacama Desert photos. Chile’s Atacama boasts ethereal landscapes, vast sceneries and the chance to get up-close-and personal with more than a few volcanos. Pictures of the Atacama Desert that look straight out of another world.

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Atacama Desert Photo Spot 1: Laguna Tebinquinche

Set in the midst of the Salar de Atacama, a ring of volcanos surround the large Laguna Tebinquinche.

The perfectly reflective surface means it should be top of your list when it comes to taking in the top views on a visit to the Atacama Desert.

The vast lake reflects the colours, hues and shapes of the surrounding skies and volcanoes. Check it out at sunset for extra wow factor.

Atacama Desert Pictures: 2. Sunrise over Lascar Volcano

The sun peeks over a row of volcanos, rising at the centre of Lascar Volcano. Sunrise in the Atacama Desert is always a spectacular sight, but the perfect silhouette of the volcanos and the bright sunlight really made this one for me.

Get to your viewing point early – in February, sunrise starts around 6.30am.

Watching the crazy colours and changing hues makes it worth every lost minute of sleep though. Really, trust me on this.

Atacama Desert Images – 3. A Lone Flamingo at Laguna Chaxa

Flamingos abound at many of the Atacama Desert’s lakes, none more so than in Laguna Chaxa.

The pastel colours of Laguna Chaxa provides the perfect backdrop to the flamingos that flock to the lake during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer.

Laguna Chaxa is home to three kinds of flamingos: the James Flamingo, the Andean Flamingo and the Chilean Flamingo. They’re drawn to the microorganisms and algae that live in the lake and on which they feed.

Abundant as the flamingos were, this lonely little fella totally captured my heart. Plus, look at the colours of that lake. Love.

Atacama Desert Photos – Salar de Talar and Aguas Calientes

Speaking of crazy colours, the Salar de Talar may have just won the prize for the most incredible landscape so far.

The waters range from pastel pink and light stone through to bright teal.

The salt flats might not have the crazy crusts of its Bolivian cousin, the Salar de Uyuni, but I think it wins in the out-and-out breathtaking landscape competition.

If you’re feeling active, you can hike along the Piedras Rojas: it’s a beautiful hike but the altitude means that you’ll be walking slower than you ever thought possible and still get out of breath when you have to climb a big rock (or maybe that’s just me).

It’s an early start but dawn over the El Tatio Geysers is a must-see for anyone visiting the Atacama Desert.

We were on the road at 5am in the freezing cold and just about made it for the beginning of the dawn (stressful).

It’s so worth the effort though, watching the sun rise over the geyser field and the random (and sometimes quite violent) eruptions of the 80 active geysers was something to behold.

If you’re a bit of a wimp like I am, wrap up warm because it is COLD.

At one point I was pressing the shutter release with my chin because my fingers had totally stopped working. The solution? Incredibly unladylike but very effective – shove your hands into your trousers until feeling returns. I can recommend.

Cool Atacama Desert Photos – 9. Sunset over Guatin Canyon

Guatin is a tiny little hamlet on the road from San Pedro de Atacama to the El Tatio Geysers.

It’s the starting point for a trek into the Cactus Canyon (more on that anon) and makes for a stunning backdrop to sunset.

We slept in Guatin for the night before heading up to El Tatio and the stars put on a pretty amazing show that night but the beautiful glow of the sunset over the canyon was unlike anything else we saw on our trip.

PS, that’s Uranus twinkling in the sky (cue childish giggle).

Pictures of the Atacama Desert – 10. Cactus Canyon, Guatin

The cacti in the Guatin Canyon tower over their surroundings – they grow several metres tall, with thick, chunky trunks and spears covered in huge prickles (don’t get too close).

You hike in through the riverbed and the surrounding valley sides are covered in towering cacti.

Don’t forget to look back for an amazing view of the canyon framed by the Atacama’s ever-present volcanos.

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We haven’t made it to South America yet, but it’s definitely on our list! This is a great add to that sublist of South American destinations btw, the landscapes are awesome indeed. And maybe I can combine this with my bucket list item “seeing a flamingo in the wild”. 😉 Preferably a flamboyance (love that word) of flamingos actually, but then I have to go in summer you say?

Ah, South America is incredible – can’t stop myself from going back each year! Yes – you can definitely combine it with seeing some flamingos! They said that flamingo season in the Atacama was in their summer (UK winter) but I’ve definitely been to Bolivia just over the border in July/August and seen tonnes of them too. Mildly obsessed with flamingos!

Amazing!This is bringing back some great memories! I haven’t gotten around to writing about my trip there yet. So so beautiful…but seriously, how cold was it getting up to see the Geysers????!!!!! :-O Will pin this on my Chile board 🙂

I’ve been to those places too. It is just amazing !! It is really difficult to say which place is my favorite one on the North of Chile… If I have to choose only one place within this area: the Salar de Uyuni !! If you want to see some pictures, http://www.c-ludik.fr/en/south-america/bolivia/